Air Quality & Health. Our Atmosphere. ENVIR 202: Lesson No. 14. Lesson 14: Air Quality February 6, ENVIR 202: Population & Health 1

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1 ENVIR 202: Lesson No. 14 Air Quality & Health February 6, 2006 Chuck Treser University of Washington Program on the Environment ENVIR 202: Lesson 14 1 Our Atmosphere Spaceship Earth Protects Us Loss of heat Cosmic Debris Ultraviolet Radiation ENVIR 202: Lesson 14 2 Our Atmosphere Spaceship Earth Protects Us Loss of heat Cosmic Debris Ultraviolet Radiation ENVIR 202: Lesson 14 3 ENVIR 202: Population & Health 1

2 What is Air Pollution? EPA Legal Definition: presence in outdoor atmosphere of any air contaminant in sufficient quantities and of such characteristics and duration, that is, or likely to be, injurious to human health, plant or animal life or which unreasonably interferes with enjoyment of life and property ENVIR 202: Lesson 14 4 Human Consumption of Air Composition: Nitrogen 78% Oxygen 21% We breath about 16 times /minute Intake 2000 gallons of air/ day 3 of 5 Americans live in areas not meeting federal standards Daily Intake Food (dry) 1.5 lbs. Water 3-5 lbs. Air 35 lbs. ENVIR 202: Lesson 14 5 Types of Air Pollution Natural Volcanoesparticles, gases Forest Fires- CO, ash Dust Stormsparticles Decaying plantsglobal warming Plants and trees- haze ENVIR 202: Lesson 14 6 ENVIR 202: Population & Health 2

3 Types of Air Pollution Man-Made Cars - ozone, smog Trucksparticles, toxics Industryparticles, chemicals Woodstovesparticles, toxics,co Outdoor burning- CO, ash Asbestos- toxics ENVIR 202: Lesson 14 7 Air Pollution Effects History Prehistoric man Growth of industry Combustion Engine Population growth ENVIR 202: Lesson 14 8 Air Pollution Effects Health Effects Asthma Bronchitis Cancer Nuisance Property ENVIR 202: Lesson 14 9 ENVIR 202: Population & Health 3

4 Air Pollution Sources ENVIR 202: Lesson Air Pollution Sources ENVIR 202: Lesson Air Pollution Sources ENVIR 202: Lesson ENVIR 202: Population & Health 4

5 Air Pollution Sources ENVIR 202: Lesson Air Pollution Control Monitoring ENVIR 202: Lesson Air Pollution Control Controls ENVIR 202: Lesson ENVIR 202: Population & Health 5

6 Ozone Low level and atmospheric Source: Results from the action of sunlight on hydrocarbons and NOx emitted from fuel combustion Effects: Decrease in lung function Respiratory & eye irritation, chest pain ENVIR 202: Lesson Depletion of Ozone Layer Chloroflurocarbons (CFCs) e.g. freons CFCs are stable UV radiation breaks down CFCs into chlorine atoms Chlorine atoms react with and destroy ozone Chlorine can persist over 100 years in stratosphere A 1% decrease in ozone layer increase UV radiation reaching earth by 2% 2-10% increase in skin cancer ENVIR 202: Lesson Airborne Particles Source: Combustion, dust, aerosols Effects: Trigger asthma attacks in sensitive individuals Severe reactions in individuals with emphysema, bronchitis and heart disease Suppress lung growth PM fine particles easily inhaled and absorbed smallest particles can enter directly into bloodstream ENVIR 202: Lesson ENVIR 202: Population & Health 6

7 Clean Air Act Goal is to protect our environment by reducing air pollution Clean Air Agency has responsibility to control air pollution Emission inventory Sets pollution limits Requires permission (permits) to pollute Requires pollution controls Conduct inspections Education Issues penalties ENVIR 202: Lesson Compliance Strategies Federal Programs National Ambient Air Quality Standards New Source Performance Standards National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants Prevention of Significant Deterioration Air Operating Permits ENVIR 202: Lesson Compliance Strategies State Programs Washington Clean Air Act vehicle emissions regulate areas with no active local agency outdoor burning ENVIR 202: Lesson ENVIR 202: Population & Health 7

8 Climate Change Global warming occurs when certain gases accumulate in our atmosphere CO2 Methane NO2 HFC s Why should we care? Warmer climate causes extreme whether patterns- droughts in some areas, heavier rains in others Warm climate diseases could spread to other parts of the world Coastal flooding, expensive projects Ocean currents could be disrupted ENVIR 202: Lesson Climate Change ENVIR 202: Lesson Climate Change ENVIR 202: Lesson ENVIR 202: Population & Health 8

9 Air Toxics Diesel emissions contain more than 40 known substances listed as Hazardous Air Pollutants Diesel particles enter into the deepest part of lungs Diesel exhaust contain irritants and cancer causing compounds Benzene and Dioxin Studies show higher rates of asthma problems near heavy vehicle traffic ENVIR 202: Lesson Air Toxics EPA s Voluntary Retrofit Program Addresses diesel vehicles now on the road Promotes a range of solutions Retrofit Devices Like Particle Traps And Oxidation Catalysts Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel Fuels Biodiesel Focused on government & large private fleets School bus project - ENVIR 202: Lesson Diesel Solutions - Retrofit ENVIR 202: Lesson ENVIR 202: Population & Health 9

10 Reducing Air Pollution Many new homes and buildings use 30 % less energy than more standard designs. Wind power already provides enough electricity for one million Americans. ENVIR 202: Lesson Reducing Air Pollution Average new vehicle gets double the number of miles per gallon that cars got in Today, trying to produce automobiles that are three times more fuel efficient. Many consumers and businesses rely on vehicles that run efficiently on electricity or natural gas. ENVIR 202: Lesson What can we do? ENVIR 202: Lesson ENVIR 202: Population & Health 10

11 What can we do? ENVIR 202: Lesson Questions ENVIR 202: Lesson Next Lesson Transportation & Sprawl ENVIR 202: Lesson ENVIR 202: Population & Health 11